Pennfield Township Votes to Opt out of Recreational Marijuana Establishments

Pennfield Township Board of Trustees voted 6-0 on Tuesday to opt-out of the establishment of recreational marijuana facilities.

The ordinance prohibits recreational marijuana businesses from being established within the township. With the passage of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act during the 2018 midterm election season, townships and cities automatically are opted-in to allowing recreational marijuana businesses unless they decide to opt-out.

Pennfield Charter Township Supervisor Dave Morgan said his reason for supporting the opt-out decision is a result of the leadership in Lansing not having a clear vision on how this industry will be regulated moving forward and how these regulations will impact the residents of our community.

"We simply can not and will not create more government and opt into something in which they wave a carrot in front of us and say just trust us. That is not fair to our residents or the business owners who would like to invest in our community”, said Morgan.

Those who would violate the ordinance would be fined between $100 and $500, as well as expenses that the township would incur in connection to the violation, according to the ordinance.